Scholar: Closer Australia-Japan Ties Benefit Pacific Island Nations' Economy and Security

Central News Agency, Sydney, June 1. Pacific Forum researcher Moses Sakai stated that as the economic and security partnership between Australia and Japan grows closer, Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are expected to benefit broadly. In an article published on the Devpolicy Blog, managed by the Australian National University, Sakai noted that while the Australia-Japan Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation released in May did not mention climate issues, it committed both nations to supporting PICs in combating money laundering. Furthermore, while reactions among PICs to Australia and Japan's cooperation to counter Chinese threats vary, it has a positive effect on the region. Sakai explained that PICs value multilateralism, and the decline of US focus on international institutions combined with China's aggressive geopolitical stance has caused concern. Sakai noted that Japan's call for 'autonomy' for PICs is well-received. He highlighted that Australia's purchase of Japanese frigates and Japan's increased Official Security Assistance (OSA) budget will significantly enhance regional security and stability.